Pipe line mixer



June 30, 1959 B. H. THURMAN vPIPE LINE MIXER Filed July 1. 1957 PIPELINE MIXER Benjamin H. Thurman, New York, N.Y.,`assgnox to BenjaminClayton, doing business under the ctitlous name and style of Refining,Unincorporated Application July 1, 1957, Serial No. 669,265

4 Claims. (Cl. 259--7)l This invention relates to a pipe line mixerwhich may be used for intimately mixing two or more components of a uidstream which passes through the mixer.

In many continuous fluid operations, a quantity of one fluid is added ata controlled rate to a stream of a second uid and it is desired tointimately mix the two fluids prior to the next step in the operation.Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a mixer whichwill intimately and uniformly mix two or more components of a iluidstream which passes through the mixer. Another object of the inventionis to provide such a mixer which will provide intimate mixing when oneof the components is present in very small quantities, such as in theorder of 0.5% A further object of the invention is to provide such amixer which is small, compact, eicient and extremely rapid yet which hasa large capacity and a high ilow rate. For example, one embodiment ofthe invention having moving parts of the order of four inches indiameter and four inches long will handle as high as 250,000 pounds ofuid per day.

It is another object of the invention to provide a pipe line mixerhaving a cage which is fixed within a chamber through which the fluid tobe mixed passes, the cage having a plurality of openings in the sidesthereof, the fluid flowing in the end of the cage and out through theside openings, there being a rotating impeller positioned within thecage carrying blades which sweep past the side openings of the cage. Afurther object of the invention is to provide such a mixer in which thecage is composed of a plurality of bars circularly disposed with spacedopenings therebetween providing uid ow paths which are disposed at anangle to the radii of the circle. Another object of the invention is toprovide such a cage having substantially diamond-shaped 'bars with onesurface of each bar closely spaced to the rotating impeller blades.

It is another object of the invention to provide a pipe line mixerhaving a cage and impeller positioned within a chamber having inlet andoutlet sections, with a main iiow path through the inlet section, an endof the cage, the side of the cage and the outlet section, and arecirculation path from the outlet section respectively throughy the endand side of the cage. Another object of the invention is to provide sucha pipe line mixer including means for adjusting the magnitude of thecirculationI ilow. Another object of the invention is to provide such amixer having a movable flange carried on the cage for engaging a portionof the chamber structure to close off the recirculation path.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a pipe line mixerwith a rotatable impeller positioned Within an apertured cage forintimately mixing uids flowing under pressure through the cage with theimpeller being operated at high rotational velocities, such as in theorder of three to four thousand revolutions per minute.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novelcombinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear inthe course of the niteci States Patent O 2,892,619 Patented June 30,1959 ICC following description. The drawing merely shows and thedescription merely describes a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention which is given by way of illustration or example.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a schematic drawing illustrating the use of the pipe linemixer of the invention in the continuous refining of glyceride oils; f

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, partial sectional View of the pipe line mixer ofFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a partial view of the cage of the invention showing anintermediate step in a preferred method of forming the cage; and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to that of Fig. 5, showing a subsequent step.

The pipe line mixer of the invention may be used for intimately mixingtwo or more components of any stream of uid and it is illustrated hereinin the continuous relining of glyceride oils, wherein a stream ofreagent is continuously added to a stream of crude oil, the reagentbeing from about 0.5% to 15% of the resultant mixture. In the `system ofFig. 1, pumps 10 and 11 continuously supply crude oil and reagent,respectively, to a mixing point or junction 12 through pipes 13 and 14,respectively. Each of the pumps is driven from a control unit 15 whichprovides control of the pumping rate of each pump. In the example givenherein, the reagent may be an alkaline solution used in an amountsufficient to at least partially neutralize the free fatty acids of thecrude oil and the proportions of reagent and oil will depend upon theinitial character of the crude oil.

The stream flows from the mixing point or junction 12 through a pipeline -mixer 16 of the invention where the oil and reagent are rapidlyand intimately mixed together, the mixer 16 being driven in rotation byan electric motor 17 directly coupled thereto or lby any other suitablemeans, such as a gear drive or belt drive.- The stream of fluid leavingthe mixer 16 passes through a coil 18 of a heat exchanger 19, heat beingtransferred to the stream by suitable means, such as by a heating mediumentering the exchanger at pipe 20 and exiting at pipe 21. The heatedmixture then passes to a centrifuge 22 wherein it is separated intosoap-stock which leaves.

yan internal chamber which is divided into an inlet section 33 and anoutlet section 34 by a plate or Wall 35. An opening 36 is provided inthe wall 35 and a similar opening 37 in the outer wall of the bodystructure 30 is closed by a cover plate 38 iixed to the body structureby suitable means such as screws 39. It should be noted that aconventional valve body can be used for the body structure if desired.

A cage 44 is mounted against a portion 45 of the cover plate 38 byscrews 46, the cage being disposed with its free end adjacent theopening 36. An impeller unit 47 is positioned within the cage 44 and hasa shaft 48 passing outward through the cage, the cover plate 38 and anoil seal within an oil seal housing 49. The inner end 50 of the shaft 48is preferably mounted in a bearing 51 carried in a spider 52 lixed tothe free end of the cage 44 by screws 53.

The cage 44 is a figure of revolution, the impeller unit 47 beingrotatably positioned within the cage. In the preferred embodiment of theinvention illustrated herein,

' the cage is in the form of a hollow cylinder with a pluralitynoflopenings` 5,6, in the side wall thereof. These4 openings are preferablyslot-like in shape, with a length to width ratio in the order of ten toone. They may be between adjacent openings. I

The side wall of the cage 44 is preferably,,madeA with a.Substantial..fhslsnsssso that. the openings, 5.6 in. theW2111W.ii1.-b...i.fi.fh9 farm Of.. owrathsorhannels 57 rather thanmereholes in a thin sheet, thelengthofsuch.

channels beinghprefervably. at least as great as theA widthofltiiemslot-like openings. Each of the dow channels 5,7l

is Prafsrably. forma@ with its axis .58..dss'ssed at an. .angle tothe"crre'sponding radius 59 of the cylinder which passes throughtheopeningin the si dewall, such angle beingin "therange of ten to twentydegrees, preferably @1b-9st fftadssfess.

"Sueh, a cage rrnayzbe t forrnsft from, al plurality of bars., 62 fixedbetween end rings 63, 64, the screws 4 6 passingYV through* the end..rings `6. for holdingy `the ,cage toy the cov'plate 38 and the screws 53engaging,theendfringg Glfor'holding thexspiderUStZto ther'cage. A.method o i siiewrnhmfFiga,'4,Y 5,. and 6. A plurality g.. Y...

A espe 'yely ofleach bar65, Whichfextensions pass tligeug'fcorrespondingopenings' in .the end frings.I

' einsertedihrough theend rings respectively into tlieiliair's.fof'holdingthe' components lin position, the eirten's' ns 6667,..bei11g peened overuas shown inFig. 4

Th'bars 65`arfe positioned relative to the' end rings asA `5 vso' thatthe longitudinal axisV 7070i the teiilto' twenty degrees 'asprevioiislydiscussed..

The? completely assembled `cageisnthen turned in, a

" he i `ular`b`rs beingmachined intosubstanshapedbaijs having twoparallel,` flat sides.f

d by"curved` sides Vl"5, 76,'fwhich are.

irle'vs, as seen in yFig. 6.

11,47 includes 'cross arms' 80, 81, S2, 83, rpigh hf Shaft'48`andaresiiiedA thereto y s, Isuch as pins 85'thfe cross arms 80,. 2"'be1n`gvdisposed'at rightfangle's'tothe cross f'the blades beingspacedslightly/from the inner peilL funit:isrdtatedwithin the'c'ge,

IrArima/annular ring or flange 93 is'threadedly mounted on thee'ndrin'gitiof thel cage 44 sothattheV ilange maybe mov'edaxiallyrelative to the cage., "When thef'pipe line. miflrjf thehinvention isassembled, thecage 44 may be spa d from the wall 35k of Vthe bodystructure 30,p`ro-l "arreaiinrular passage'betweenuthe cage and .wall.The ange may be moved relativetotheucage to yar'y f zeofthis annularpassage and may be, moved/to.v engag the wa'lllS and completely block.the annular.

passage;

In the operationof the pipe linemixer, lthe fluid to be the`iiripellerfunit is driven in rotation bysuitable means.

56 :in the side walllinto the outletseetioni. A recirculation pathrnay:be provided from,4 the outlet VVsection l34,

thir'ough the annular: passage ,between 4tlie cage .and-,theWlif3l5-vlh0ush.the Casa. end .0f thema?, .and back to..

ufacturing the n cage .with diamondfshaped bars is. of rectangular Pins;

angletwith,tliekradius of .the end ring passingl throughI"'offftherbanfsuczh angle being in the range of.

se Blades si?, 87, assis' are nieaiin aiigneg ffiile "ends ofithe Acrossarmsby pins 90,' thefou't'er the..outletse.ction throughithesideopenings in the cage. The magnitude of ow through this recirculationpath is controlled by the position of'the ange 93 at the bottom of thecage.

A pipe line mixer consiucted as described above will be compact, rugged,and-efcient and will provide intimate and uniform mixing of twocomponents of a huid stream when one component isy present in quantitiesas low as 0.5% ofthe total. capable of continuous. operation athighcapacity; for example, a mixerhaving a cage about four incheshigh andfour inches in diameter with twenty equally spaced bars in the.cagefandfour bladesin .the impellerwith the impeller operating. atapproximately 3 400 revolutions per minute will handle 250,000 pounds ofglyceride oil per day.

Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention hasbeenfdisclosedand.discussed,. it will beunderstood thaLotherapplications .of :theinvention. are. possible. and

that the. embodiments disclosed may. be,.subjected to various changes,modiicationsand substitutions without necessarilydepartingrom.the,spirit of theinvention.

I-claim as4 my invention: 1i. In. a mixenforiinsertion inra huid-,flowline,.the coma binationofi.V la .body .structure vhavinga ilow .passagetherefA throughasaid bodystructure. including platemeans blockingsaidow.passage, and. dividing saidflow, passage4 into inletand outletsections,said plate.means4 having an opening therein; a cagehavingan.openend anda.side .whichv is..a.i`1gure of, revolutiom said v side having f. avplurality of aperturesfonuidowtherethrough; means for mountingsaidzcagewithinrsaid body structureinrsaid outlet section on.or 1e,sideoisaid plate meanswith-,amannular flow passagebetween.saidoplatemeans and cage.for fluidow. bothifrom saidinlet sectinthroughsaid.opening.n said platemeans into said cageand,from.said=outletsection through said annular. passageJ into ,saidcaga .through said.

open, end,.and.out said apertures intosaid outletsection; and, an.impeller rotatably. mounted lwithinisaidcage, said imp el1er...having aplurality .o f. blades disposed adjacent the .inner .Wall .of rsaidside. of ,said cage.

2. Ina mixerfor insertionin .ailuid flow line, the com-- binationot:abody .structure having a how passage therethrough`said .body structureincluding plate means blockingsaidilow. .passage .and dividing Vsaid owpassageinto inletand outlet sections, said plate means havinganopeningtherein; Iacage having an .openend and a side whichis ia-.iigureofrevolutiom saidesidehaving va pluralityof apertures, foruid.how therethrough; means vformounting. said cagewithinsaid body.structurein said outletsectionion.

one, side ofsaid plate meanswith .anannular iiow passage betweenrsaidplate. means and cagevfor uid owrboth from said inlet section throughsaid opening in said ,plate` meansrinto. said cage andfromisaid outletsection through said.annulanpassageintosaid. cage, through said openend,-.and outsaidaperturesinto said outletsection; means. carriedon saidcage adjacent said plate means for movemenhlelativeiosaid cageand plate,meansfto vary.L the size... of.. saidannular. passage; .and animpellerrotatably. mounted, within. said .cage,.said.imp.eller .having aplurality.

shaped incrossfsectionand positioned with one surface of eaghgofsaidbars along thesurface ofa cylinder. forming owvpatbsbetween.,saidbarswhich arevdisposed .at4 an. anglegtowthecortespondinggadius oitsaid.cylinder which i.

Such apipeiline mixer is,

enters each flow path, the spaces between said bars at said surface ofthe cylinder being substantially equal to the areas of said one surfaceof the bars; means for mounting said cage within said body structure insaid outlet section on one side of said plate means with an annular flowpassage between said plate means and cage for fluid flow both from saidinlet section through said opening in said plate means into said cageand from said outlet section through said annular passage into saidcage, through said open end, and out said flow paths into said outletsection; an annular ange mounted on said cage adjacent said one endring, said ange being movable relative to said cage toward and away fromsaid plate means for engaging said plate means and controlling uid owthrough said annular passage; and an impeller rotatably mounted Withinfsaid cage, said impeller having a plurality of blades disposed adjacentsaid surface of said cylinder defined by said bars.

4. In a mixer for insertion in a uid iow line, the combination of: bodymeans dening a chamber having an inlet section and an outlet section andmeans defining a flow passage therebetween; a cage having a side whichis a :figure of revolution, said side having a plurality of aperturestherein for uid ow from the interior to the exterior of said cage, saidcage having an inlet opening for uid ilow into the interior thereof;cage support means for mounting said cage Within said chamber in saidoutlet section with said inlet opening of said cage in directcommunication with said llow passage between said sections; a bypassbetween the cage and the chamber in the body means, Wholly Within saidbody means, to deliver fluid from the outlet section to said inletopening; and an impeller rotatably mounted within said cage, saidimpeller having a plurality of blades disposed adjacent the inner Wallof said side of said cage.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 423,285Smith et al Mar. 11, 1890 2,142,062 Thurman Dec. 27, 1938 2,461,720Cadwood et al. Feb. 15, 1949 2,503,228 Wanner Apr. 4, 1950 2,698,303Blair et al. Dec. 28, 1954 2,767,965 Daman Oct. 23, 1956

